What is "echinocyte"

echinocyte \ech"i*no*cyte\ ([e^]k"[i^]*n[-o]*s[imac]t), n. (Biol.) a red blood cell which has become crenated.

n. (synonym of schistocyte English)

Echinocyte (from the Greek word echinos, meaning 'hedgehog' or 'sea urchin'), in human biology and medicine, refers to a form of red blood cell that has an abnormal cell membrane characterized by many small, evenly spaced thorny projections. A more common term for these cells is burr cells.